Kastaplast- Jonas Lindberg Q and A

Within the world of Disc Golf there are many companies that produce Disc golf discs. We all know the big names like Innova, Discraft, Latitude 64, etc. However, there is a company based in Stockholm Sweden that is trying to make a name for themselves. The company that I am talking about is no other than Kastaplast. I got the chance to talk to one of the creators of the company, Jonas Lindberg, and pick his brain about what it is like to have a company such as his. Enjoy!

1) How did Kastaplast get its start?

It was a long period of experimenting and learning. About two years passed just for that. It involved research, prototyping, computer flight simulation, looking for the right plastic types, testing out a vast number of designs and much, much, more. We started working with a company which is specialized in anything from small scale prototyping to full production, which perfectly suited our way of working at that stage. And still does. This eventually led to our first disc, Rask, an unusual disc in many ways. About that time Anders Källström and Per Jonson joined me and Kastaplast took its current shape. That was in 2013.

2) What makes you guys different than other companies?

We're simply going our own way as an independent brand and try to be creative. Since we haven't teamed up with other disc manufacturers we had to make our own path to follow right from day one. I believe we may be a bit more of an experimental workshop type of company than most other disc golf brands.

3) Is there significance behind the name "Kastaplast"?

Yes, in Sweden you may hear people say for instance... shall we “kasta plast”? Which means to throw plastic. We chose to spell it Kastaplast instead. It’s simply a casual expression for disc golf, but perhaps with a less sporty attitude. Disc golf has grown as a grass root movement with its own unique identity, and for us the name Kastaplast is a tribute to all that; the people, the lifestyle and the culture.

4) Personally, what is your favorite course?

Put me on any course and I will be a happy man. However, I have a thing for well thought-out details. Nicely crafted next-tee signs, painted baskets, those small bridges over water or a couple steps on the path to make it less of a hiking experience. I'm in favor of anything with a personal touch.

5) Again, personally, What is your favorite disc?

I'd say K1 Berg. The lack of glide almost makes it a cheater disc for windy approach shots. It’s one of our more unique discs and I tend to get a personal liking for those. It’s a designer thing; you want to see traces of an idea, a vision or progress.

6) What discs do you recommend people trying out from Kastaplast?

We have discs for beginners and professionals, so it will depend on skill level. For amateurs I'd say our fairway driver Falk. Throwing it is so effortless. But the most obvious tip would be our neutral putter Reko, simply because it suits so many different types of players. If I should mention one more disc then I'd go with Kaxe because it's such a versatile disc.

7) How long does it take to come up with a new disc?

As with most products you can do fast or slow. However, considering what the disc market looks like today we find bigger customer value in quality than in frequent releases, and therefore we'll take the time we need to make a disc that we're satisfied with. So far we have released about two new molds per year.

8) Any new discs coming out soon?

Yes, our next disc will be released in a couple months, we'll soon have the first prototypes ready. What I can tell you is that it will be a fairway driver, more stable than our Falk. Many players have asked for this type of disc from us and I'm looking forward to this release.

9) What made you want to make discs?

I had many ideas for disc designs and was convinced that they would be good additions in players' bags. Furthermore, as a disc golfer and designer I was certain that we could match the overall quality and degree of innovation of the existing brands. And then there was the fun factor; making cool flying objects is fun.

10) Any advice for people who want to start their own company making discs?

Making own discs will soon be a lot easier, at least the prototyping part, as the progress of 3D printing continues. Most likely we will eventually see a new type of "basement disc making culture", perhaps even with own events since these discs wouldn't be allowed at today's competitions. So this will be something to look forward to for anyone who wants to make own discs. To mass produce discs and start a commercial brand is a whole different story of course, as you can tell from the first answer.

11) What is the team like for Kastaplast?

Our team is a nice mix of people from eight countries. Being in the team is to be part of a collaboration, and our players are usually rather inventive when it comes to being good ambassadors for both Kastaplast and the sport. They're doing a good job and we're proud of our team. At our site you can read about all member of Team Kastaplast.

I would like to thank the Kastaplast company and Jonas for letting me talk to him and ask him these questions. If you would like to know more about Kastaplast you can visit their website at www.kastaplast.se. Look out for more interviews coming in the near future!

Logo credit goes to the Kastaplast company and their website http://www.kastaplast.se/